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Atletico Madrid's Diego Simeone wants Inter Milan return in future

Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone has vowed to return to Inter Milan to coach the Serie A club at some stage.

Former Argentina international Simeone, 45, spent two seasons playing for Inter, winning the UEFA Cup in 1998.

He told Mediaset that he has spoken about a return to his former Inter and Argentina teammate Javier Zanetti, who is currently the Italian club's vice-president.

"We've exchanged a few words on the phone and as I've always said, and I have no fear of saying it again now, one day I will return to Milan because I did well there and left a great memory there, and I have the objective of going back as coach," Simeone said.

It is not the first time Simeone has spoken openly about his desire to coach Inter, having said in February 2013 that he would "certainly" take charge of the club one day and then reaffirming that desire earlier this season.

After beginning his managerial career in Argentina, Simeone's first role in Europe was with Serie A side Catania in January 2011.

Despite losing his first two games, he guided the Sicilian club to safety that season and what was at the time their best ever point tally of 46 -- one more than Sinisa Mihajlovic had achieved in the previous campaign.

He nonetheless left Catania after less than six months and subsequently returned to the club where he ended his playing career, Racing Club in Argentina, before taking over at Atletico in December 2011.

He has already led the Spanish side to success in the Europa League, Copa del Rey and La Liga, and they remain in contention for the Spanish title and Champions League this season.

Simeone is contracted to Atletico, who host Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League semifinal on Wednesday, until 2020. Current Inter coach Roberto Mancini has a contract until 2017 with the Nerazzurri.